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Recent Events

I’ve been going to the Texas State Autism Conference for years and had the chance to present on Come to Life! AND Be Safe! Senate Bill (SB) 30 is about to take effect in Texas…are YOU ready for it?

July 30-31, 2018, Alamo Area Council of Governments, San Antonio, Texas

Conducted a Be Safe certificate course and interactive screening. I was also very fortunate to make an appearance at the State Conference of School Resource Officers! Don’t leave safety to chance in your school or your community…get in touch with me TODAY!!!

July 23-25, 2018, State-Wide Institute on Best Practices in Inclusive Education, Wausau, Wisconsin

Presented a very well-received Know Yourself. Love Yourself. Be Yourself. keynote and Be Safe! breakout session. Remember to involve and include your young person in their transition meetings and future planning or else they will grow up living a life that isn’t theirs and/or that they’re unhappy with!

Thank you to the LAPD MEU and the Autism Society of Los Angeles for having me speak to police officers and other law enforcement professionals about how to identify and respond to people with autism in the field!

Thank you to Ken Wiseman of The Santa Clarita Valley Mayor’s Committee for bringing me in to speak on a panel to share my stories of being a past Workability client and to help educators better serve their students and clients!

March 8, 2018, Autism Live, Woodland Hills, California

It was an honor to be back on Autism Live! again on International Women’s Day to discuss the latest with me including joining the National Speakers Association (NSA) and my interest in coaching youth with autism to be their best selves!

March 8, 2018, Autism Quality of Life Podcast

Thank you so much, Teri Krakovich, for having me on your show to discuss Come to Life! and Be Safe! These programs are vital to a better quality of life for people with autism and their allies.

February 24, 2018, Autism Speaks, W. Hollywood, California

My first speech as a member of the board of Autism Speaks (Southern California chapter)!

Thank you to ESC 19 for allowing me to speak about “Come to Life!” AND “Be Safe” with the latter being particularly important for Texans in light of Senate Bill (SB) 30 passing requiring students begin receiving instruction on how to interact with police.

November 21, 2017, Club Captivate, Woodland Hills, California

Thank you to the incredible Chanti Niven of Captivating Speakers for inviting me to speak at your club about Come to Life!

November 18-19, 2017, Jackalope Art Fair, Pasadena, California

I had the chance to take some youth from Brighter Future Charity through some Come to Life! activities intended to build friendships and boost self-confidence!

November 16, 2017, Autism Works Now, Woodland Hills, California

Thank you to Susan Osborne and Joanne Lara for having me back again to speak to your candidates!

November 15, 2017, Autism Awareness Seminar, College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, California

My longtime friend, Larry Schallert, invited me to be on a panel as an autism expert alongside Autism Social Alliance students so…naturally…I said YES!

Using empathy-based exercises, I educated and trained police officers about autism on behalf of the Autism Society of Los Angeles!

August 3-4, 2017, Texas State Autism Conference, San Antonio, Texas

Presented on “Come to Life: Prioritizing What Really Matters,” participated in a book signing at the Autism Asperger Publishing Company (AAPC) booth and got some wonderful video testimonials about my presentations! A big “thank you” to Education Service Center Region 2 and the Texas Education Agency!

July 27, 2017, Tierra del Sol Foundation, Van Nuys, California

Empowering and educating new college students on how to “Be The Hero In Your Life”!

July 21, 2017, KHTS AM 1220, Santa Clarita, California

Thank you to George Cummings for conducting my first radio interview on my hometown station!

The world premiere launch of my first book, Come to Life! Your Guide to Self-Discovery, was a HUGE success with all copies of the book being SOLD OUT! I made many connections and a number of publishers and autism organizations have expressed interest in using Come to Life! with their young people!

July 8, 2017, Wine & Dine Toastmasters, Studio City, California

It was a proud moment for my very first keynote as a published author to be at an advanced Toastmasters club! As a member of this club, it’s wonderful to see so many of my fellow Toastmasters believing in me, my message and my mission!

Thank you to Camille Watkins of Jay Nolan Community Services for letting me put on a “Lunch and Learn” presentation on Be Safe: The Movie for Jay Nolan’s clients and staff!

June 1, 2017, Autism Live, Woodland Hills, California

A big THANK YOU! to Shannon Penrod for having me and my mother on your show to officially announce and discuss the upcoming release of our new book (my first!) called Come to Life! Your Guide to Self-Discovery!

May 22, 2017, Wise Heroes, Sunland, California

It was an honor to be interviewed about my transition from accountant to advocate, to spread hope to young entrepreneurs with and without disabilities and to discuss my keys to success!

It was a full house of consumers, parents and staff of the Eastern LA Regional Center that experienced a Be Safe Interactive Screening!

April 23, 2017, AutFest: International Autism Film Festival, Orange, California

I got to spend some time on the red carpet discussing my views of the movie The Accountant and my time as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune (aired 4/18/2017)!

April 19-22, 2017, Council for Exceptional Children Special Education Convention & Expo, Boston, Massachusetts

Thank you to TeachTown for having me and my mother to present on “Don’t Leave Safety to Chance: Teaching Teens & Adults with ASD How to Interact Safely with Police”!

April 8, 2017, Willmar Senior High School, Willmar, Minnesota

It was an honor to be the opening keynote at The Resource Center Program-West Central Industries U-EMPOWERED conference! In addition to “Know Yourself. Love Yourself. Be Yourself.”, I gave a breakout session, “Tom’s Tips for Telling: How to Tell Your Child About Their Disability.”

April 4, 2017, Improv Toastmasters, Sherman Oaks, California

During the club’s “Improv 2 Improve” workshop, I gave a presentation called “Improv Your Creative Solutions” which utilizes mental flexibility to better your ability to think on your feet and adapt to an unusual situation.

April 4, 2017, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California

It was awesome being a guest speaker to discuss “Autism: Breaking Barriers!”

April 4, 2017, Northridge Academy High School, Northridge, California

In recognition of autism awareness/acceptance month, freshmen students asked me a series of questions about autism during a school assembly!

April 3, 2017, Exceptional Minds, Sherman Oaks, California

Alongside my fellow Toastmasters, I informed students of this awesome school about the benefits of joining a Toastmasters club!

Thank you to The Autism Society of Los Angeles for including me in their training for LAPD MEU police officers and first responders!

February 26, 2017, Tierra del Sol Foundation, Sunland, California

Thank you to The Autism Society of Los Angeles for putting me on their self-advocate speaker’s bureau and for letting me show everyone what I’m made of with my speech “Growing Up With Autism: What I’ve Learned Along the Way”!

February 25, 2017, Venice Beach Boardwalk, Venice, California

Thank you to Brighter Future Charity for having me at your art festival to share my mantra “Know Yourself. Love Yourself. Be Yourself.”

Thank you to Quest Toastmasters (Club #4643) for inviting me to speak on “Growing Up With Autism: What I’ve Learned Along the Way” and for reminding all of us that “It’s OK to Be Different”!

February 21, 2017, Morgan’s Wonderland, San Antonio, Texas

Co-facilitated a ‘Be Safe’ Interactive Screening at a sensory-friendly theme park bringing police and youth with disabilities together with local news media and police officers from Mexico watching from the audience!

February 15-17, 2017, Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG), San Antonio, Texas

Trained young adults with disabilities, police trainers and police officers in a comprehensive session involving all three parties!

February 7, 2017, California State University, Northridge, California

Presented on “Be Safe: The Movie” for the CSUN Center for Teaching and Learning!

February 6, 2017, California State University, Northridge, California

I had the honor of introducing Temple Grandin herself at my alma mater!

January 25, 2017, Family Focus Empowerment Group of CSUN, Chatsworth, California

Presented “Teaching Young Adults How to Be Safe with Police and First Responders” to parents, educators and other supporters of North Los Angeles County Regional Center (NLACRC) consumers.

January 18-20, 2017, Council for Exceptional Children Division on Autism & Developmental Disabilities, Clearwater Beach, Florida

I covered a LOT of ground at this conference…presenting on “Don’t Leave Safety to Chance: Teaching Teens and Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to Interact Safely with Police” alongside Emily Iland…my premiere presentation of “E3: Explore, Experience & Evolve. Helping Youth with Disabilities Find Themselves” AND a poster presentation of “What We’ve Learned Along the Way: Tools to Improve the Transition Process”! Special thanks to Dianne Porter of Plaid Lizard Design for putting together the poster!

January 9, 2017, Aspire Public School, Huntington Park, California

Thank you to all of the teachers that attended my training on helping students with autism!

Thank you to Joanne Lara and Susan Osborne of Autism Works Now for having me present “Making Work Work for Individuals With ASD” with emphasis on the interview process!

December 13, 2016, California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles, California

With the help of Bruce Wilson of “If I Need Help,” I trained dozens of police officers about identifying the signs of autism and how to assist someone with autism in their community.

December 3, 2016, Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area, Stanford, CA

Presented Don’t Leave Safety to Chance: Essential Skills for Interacting Safely with Police and got to see San Francisco for the very first time!

November 16-18, 2016, OCALICON 2016, Columbus, Ohio

Spoke on a panel about self-advocacy and self-determination alongside James Williams and David Petrovic. I can also confirm that my upcoming book, Come to Life: Navigating the Transition to Adulthood, will be released by Summer 2017! Thank you to the Autism Asperger Publishing Company (AAPC) for your support and for helping me make this dream a reality!

Sharing educational and humorous stories with Erin Wilson of “If I Need Help” along with multiple CHP officers makes my job both enjoyable and worthwhile!

October 17, 2016, Canyon High School, Santa Clarita, California

I talked to students from the Yes I Can program about “BE SAFE: The Movie” and taught them much-needed safety tips and provided self-disclosure tools so they can effectively interact with police and first responders!

October 11, 2016, California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles, California

With the help of Erin Wilson of “If I Need Help,” I trained dozens of police officers about identifying the signs of autism and how to assist someone with autism in their community.

October 10, 2016, Canyon High School, Santa Clarita, California

Presented “Come to Life” to the students of the ‘Yes I Can’ class, which promotes unity through music and education and was brought to Santa Clarita in 2001 by my mother, Emily Iland. Before my presentation, a girl on the autism spectrum came up to me to say that had Yes I Can never been brought to Santa Clarita, she may not be alive today. This is the reason my mother and I do what we do: to save and improve the lives of people with autism for the better!

With the help of Bruce Wilson of “If I Need Help,” I trained dozens of police officers about identifying the signs of autism and how to assist someone with autism in their community.

September 20, 2016, Smedley Club One, Irvine, California

I was greatly honored to be invited to the very first Toastmasters club to speak on “Overcoming the Obstacles of Autism.” Dr. Ralph Smedley would have been proud to witness the firsthand impact his organization has had and continues to have on me.

September 16, 2016, Westside Regional Center, Culver City, California

A big “thank you” to The West Side Tigers for having me and Emily Iland speak about a wide variety of topics from telling your son or daughter he/she has autism, to coming up with a transition plan, to keeping young people safe during police encounters!

August 6, 2016, Little Engine Homecare, San Antonio, Texas

Eight police officers from the San Antonio area and even Police Chief William McManus interacted with youth with disabilities during a BE SAFE Interactive Screening. A big “thank you” to The Autism Society of Central Texas and the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) for putting on the event as well as KENS5 Eyewitness News and NEWS4 San Antonio for your TV coverage of the event!

I had the unexpected honor of being called ‘da bomb’ by Dr. Stephen Shore during his opening address! Attendees loved my presentation “Know Yourself. Love Yourself. Be Yourself.” and Emily Iland’s “Drawing a Blank” presentation was standing room only!

July 21, 2016, Education Service Center Region 12, Waco, Texas

Thank you to everyone that attended “Know Yourself. Love Yourself. Be Yourself.” as well as Emily Iland’s “Drawing a Blank”!

My speech “Overcoming the Obstacles of Autism” emphasized how Toastmasters helped me and can help those with autism come out of their comfort zone through prepared and improvised speeches!

June 21, 2016, California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles, California

With the help of Bruce Wilson and www.ifineedhelp.org, dozens of police officers now know about the signs of autism and how to help someone in the community that has it.

June 10-12, 2016, The Family Cafe, Orlando, Florida

This was one of the largest conferences I had ever been to! Thankfully, I was safe and sound in my hotel room when the Pulse shooting broke out a few minutes away!

June 8-9, 2016, Wor-Wic Community College, Salisbury, Maryland

The criminal justice department hosted both a Be Safe certificate course AND an interactive screening! I also had the honor of meeting Patti Saylor!

May 24, 2016, Inclusion Films, Bakersfield, California

Ten years after my appearance in the documentary, Normal People Scare Me, I attended a screening of Normal People Scare Me Too, opening the event with “Know Yourself. Love Yourself. Be Yourself.” Thank you to everyone that made this movie and event possible and for allowing me to share in my success with all of you.

April 22, 2016, Golden Oak Adult School, Santa Clarita, California

It was a pleasure inspiring young adults with autism through my newest presentation, “Be The Hero In Your Life’s Story!”

April 7-8, 2016, Imagine Autism Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Thank you to everyone that attended my presentations of “Come to Life: Prioritizing What Matters Most” and “Be Safe” and also to the University of New Mexico’s Center for Development & Disability for putting on such a wonderful conference!

Thank you to all that attended “Know Yourself. Love Yourself. Be Yourself.” at the ASNC conference! I appreciate all of your positive comments, laughter, clapping and smiles!

January 21-22, 2016 Council for Exceptional Children Division on Autism & Developmental Disabilities 17th International Conference,Honolulu Hawaii

I was honored to be the opening keynote speaker at the Council for Exceptional Children Division on Autism & Developmental Disabilities conference in Honolulu. There was a wonderful turnout and I was delighted with the positive response from those who attended.

My thanks to Dr. David Cihak, president of CEC-DADD and to conference chair Cindy Perras for the opportunity to share my perspective.

It was great to see familiar faces and meet new people at my presentation “Insider Tips for College” in Pasadena, CA on August 8th.

I had the honor of meeting Temple Grandin in May 2015 when I presented at the Autism Works Now event focused on employing people with autism. I hope to follow in Temple’s footsteps by promoting autism awareness through speaking, training and writing.

Thanks to the Special Needs Network for inviting me to be a panelist at the 10th Annual Tools for Transformation Conference in April, 2015. The audience was enthusiastic about our discussion on love, relationships, education and employment.

I have worked as a licensed Certified Public Accountant since 2010. Numbers have always come naturally to me and a career in accounting is truly rewarding! Following Temple Grandin’s example, I am working to establish a second career as a presenter and trainer while I keep my day job!

I was thrilled to get my first standing ovation after presenting some personal perspectives at a conference hosted by the San Joaquin County Office of Education during Autism Awareness Month, 2007.